Types of Verbs
Types of Verbs
Types of Verbs
Before you begin the verb tense lessons, it is extremely important to understand that NOT all
English verbs are the same. English verbs are divided into three groups: Normal Verbs, Non-
Continuous Verbs, and Mixed Verbs.
Most verbs are "Normal Verbs." These verbs are usually physical actions which you can see
somebody doing. These verbs can be used in all tenses.
Normal Verbs
Examples:
The second group, called "Non-Continuous Verbs," is smaller. These verbs are usually things
you cannot see somebody doing. These verbs are rarely used in continuous tenses. They
include:
Abstract Verbs
Possession Verbs
Emotion Verbs
Examples:
Mixed Verbs
to appear:
to have:
to hear:
to look:
to miss:
to see:
to smell:
to taste:
to think:
to weigh:
to be:
to feel:
NOTICE: The second meaning of "feel" is very flexible and there is no real difference in
meaning between "I don't feel well today" and "I am not feeling well today."
Sentences can be active or passive. Therefore, tenses also have "active forms" and "passive
forms." You must learn to recognize the difference to successfully speak English.
Active Form
In active sentences, the thing doing the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing
receiving the action is the object. Most sentences are active.
Examples:
Passive Form
In passive sentences, the thing receiving the action is the subject of the sentence and the thing
doing the action is optionally included near the end of the sentence. You can use the passive
form if you think that the thing receiving the action is more important or should be
emphasized. You can also use the passive form if you do not know who is doing the action or
if you do not want to mention who is doing the action.
[Thing receiving action] + [be] + [past participle of verb] + [by] + [thing doing action]
Examples:
Simple Past Sam repaired the car. The car was repaired by Sam.
Present Perfect Recently, John has been doing the Recently, the work has been being done
Continuous work. by John.
George had repaired many cars before Many cars had been repaired by George
Past Perfect
he received his mechanic's license. before he received his mechanic's license.
Chef Jones had been preparing the The restaurant's fantastic dinners had
Past Perfect
restaurant's fantastic dinners for two been being prepared by Chef Jones for
Continuous
years before he moved to Paris. two years before he moved to Paris.
Simple Future Sally is going to make a beautiful dinner A beautiful dinner is going to be made by
be going to tonight. Sally tonight.
Future
At 8:00 PM tonight, John will be At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes will be
Continuous
washing the dishes. being washed by John.
will
Future
At 8:00 PM tonight, John is going to be At 8:00 PM tonight, the dishes are going
Continuous
washing the dishes. to be being washed by John.
be going to
Future Perfect They will have completed the project The project will have been completed
will before the deadline. before the deadline.
Future Perfect They are going to have completed the The project is going to have been
be going to project before the deadline. completed before the deadline.
Future Perfect The famous artist will have been The mural will have been being painted
Continuous painting the mural for over six months by the famous artist for over six months by
will by the time it is finished. the time it is finished.
Future Perfect The famous artist is going to have been The mural is going to have been being
Continuous painting the mural for over six months painted by the famous artist for over six
be going to by the time it is finished. months by the time it is finished.
Used to Jerry used to pay the bills. The bills used to be paid by Jerry.
My mother would always make the The pies would always be made by my
Would Always
pies. mother.
Future in the
I knew John would finish the work by I knew the work would be finished by 5:00
Past
5:00 PM. PM.
Would
Future in the
I thought Sally was going to make a I thought a beautiful dinner was going to
Past
beautiful dinner tonight. be made by Sally tonight.
Was Going to
ent
Menu
Verb Tense Intro.
Types of Verbs
Active/Passive
Simple Present
Present Continuous
Simple Past
Past Continuous
Present Perfect
Present Perf. Cont.
Past Perfect
Past Perfect Cont.
Simple Future
Future Continuous
Future Perfect
Future Perfect Cont.
Used to
Would Always
Future in the Past
Simple Present
f t g+ p
FORM
Examples:
Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action is repeated or usual. The action can
be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a scheduled event or something that often happens. It can
also be something a person often forgets or usually does not do.
Examples:
I play tennis.
She does not play tennis.
Does he play tennis?
The train leaves every morning at 8 AM.
The train does not leave at 9 AM.
When does the train usually leave?
She always forgets her purse.
He never forgets his wallet.
Every twelve months, the Earth circles the Sun.
Does the Sun circle the Earth?
The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes that a fact was true before, is true
now, and will be true in the future. It is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact.
It is also used to make generalizations about people or things.
Examples:
Speakers occasionally use Simple Present to talk about scheduled events in the near future.
This is most commonly done when talking about public transportation, but it can be used with
other scheduled events as well.
Examples:
Examples:
I am here now.
She is not here now.
He needs help right now.
He does not need help now.
He has his passport in his hand.
Do you have your passport with you?
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never,
ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples: